Etching-machine.



G. H. BROWN.

ETCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27, 1913.

1,132,91 1. Patented Mar. 23, 1915 2 SHEBTSSEEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS 50.. FHDTO-LITHQ. WAHINGTON. D. C

G.--H. BROWN. ETOHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27, 1913.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

S SS

INVEIYITOR 351 01 WITNESSES THE NORRIS PETERS CO, PHOTO-LITHO,WASHINGTON, D C.

1. It a .a .z

GEORGE H. BROWN, OF POINT LOlVIA, CALIFORNIA.

E'ICHING-MACHINE.

Application filed January 2'7, 1913. Serial No. 744,477.- 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Point Loma, in the county of San Diego and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inEtching-Machines, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanyingdrawing. I

This invention relates to etching machines and has for its object theproduction of a simple and ellicient apparatus which will cause thedesired acid to be dropped upon the plate to be acted upon.

Another object of this invention is the production of an etching machinewhich may be constructed for a minimum cost and which will prevent theacid from corroding upon the plate to be acted upon, owing to the factthat the acid will be showered upon the plate in such a manner as toprevent the dross from lodging thereon.

With these and other objects in View, use

invention consists of certain novel c0nstructions, combinations andarrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective View of the machine. Fig. 2is a central vertical section thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective ofthe etching supporting tray or cradle. Fig. 4 is a side elevation partlyin section of an embodiment of my invention. Fig. 5 is a detailperspective of one of the shower plates which may be used in connectionwith the present invention. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of stillanother shower plate showing the same as being provided with a pluralityof elongated apertures. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective of still anotherform of shower plate as being provided with a centrally locatedaperture. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective of the shower nozzle which maybe used in connection with the plate as illustrated in Fig. 7

By referring to the drawings by numerals it will be seen that ldesignates the body of the machine which may be formed ofany shape ordesign desired and may also be formed of any desired material which willresist the chemical action of the acid contained within the interior ofthe machine.

This body 1 is supported upon parallel frames or standards 2 and ispivotally mounted thereon by means of journal pins 3 which are securedto the side of the body 1. A plurality of handles 4 are secured to thesides of the body to facilitate the swinging of the body. This body isprovided upon, its ends with a stop lug 5 which lug is adapted to fit inthe socket 6 formed in the outer end of the locking pawl or clamp 7These looking pawls or clamps are pivotally secured Specification ofLetters Patent. Patented Mar. 23, 1915. I

to the floor by means of journals 8 and are yieldably supported at theirouter ends by means of coil springs 9. It will be seen that as one ofthese lugs 5 engage the look ing pawl orv clamp 7 in the manner as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the body 1 will be held in a set position. Alocking arm 10 is carried by one side of the body 1 as illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2, and is provided with a rounded lower end 11 which roundedlower end is adapted to engage the socket 6 carried by the clamp 7 forholding the body 1 in a horizontal position.

The body 1 is provided with a door 12 so that access may be had to theinterior of the body, and a tray or cradle 13 is supported therein bymeans of the pivot members 14. These pivot members 14 are pivotallysecured to the interior of the body 1 and have enlarged ends 15 whichends normally prevent the eyes 16 of the side frames 17 from becomingaccidentally detached therefrom. These pivot members 14 are preferablyformed of rubber or other simicorners so as to constitute an efficientsupport, and prevent the plate from tilting relative to the frame.

Compartments 21 and 22 are formed at opposite ends of the body 1 and areadapted to receive or contain the desired acid for the purpose ofetching the plate. Itwill,

therefore, be seen that owing to the fact that the compartment iscarried at each end of the body, one compartment will be filled as theother is emptied. Each compartment 21- and 22 is provided with a bottom23 which bottom comprises a pair of plates converging toward theirinnerends as indicated at 24 and terminate in a chanis running into oneof the compartments 21 or 22. The opposite side of the plate 26 issupported by a channel 27 and an inlet tube 2 8 is formed in eachcompartment 21 and 22 for facilitating the entrance of liquid into thecompartment other than through the apertures formed in the perforated orspraying plate 26. It should be understood that the tube 28 as well asthe other portions of the device may be made of glass or othernoncorrodible material.

The cradle 13 is supported within the body 1 in such a position as to bein direct alinement with the spraying plates 26 carried by the severalcompartments 21 and 22 so that the acid discharged from the compartmentswill be directed upon the plate adapted to be acted upon by the acid.It, of course, should be understood that as one compartment has beenemptied and it is desired to further act upon the plate or etching thebody 1 is swung in the direction of the arrow upon its pivot therebycausing the acid from the opposite tank to drop or fall upon the cradle13. Of course, the body 1 while so swinging will be entirely inverted soas to have the compartments 21 and 22 in a reversed position from thatas illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

A false bottom 29 is supported within the body 1 and an outlet valve orport 30 is carried by the false bottom 29 so as to allow the washing ofthe plate to be etched. An outlet opening 31 is also formed in the bodyand is normally closed by means of a plug 32, and it should beunderstood that by moving this plug the body may be drained through theopening 31. As illustrated in Fig. 6 the spray plate 26 may be providedwith a plurality of elongated apertures 33 for facilitating thedischarge of acid from the tanks 21 and 22. A plate, as illustrated inFig. 7, may also be used, which plate is provided with a centrallylocated aperture 34; for receiving a spraying nozzle 35.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that by use of thepresent device it will not be necessary to employ brushes or otherapparatus to keep the surface of the zinc or other metal free frominsoluble deposits caused by the action of the acid. It, of course,should be understood that this de posit would interfere with the actionof the acid and unless these substances are removed in some manner, itwould be impossible to make practical or serviceable linecuts oretchings. It will be further understood that owing to the length of thefall of the acid which is produced in the machine above described, theacid will strike the plate with sufiicient force to remove the insolublematerial and produce perfect work. Suflicient acid may be stored in oneof these tanks of the machine to complete one bite or etch and themachine need need not be reversed until the plate is ready for thesecond bite or etch. If it is desired-to continue the first bite longerthan is possible by the amount of material in one of the tanks, themachine may be inverted instantly and the process continuedindefinitely. The machine is so constructed that there is no need forthe fumes of the acid to escape while producing the etching.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a very simple anddurable device has been produced which may be very cheaply constructedand will perform the necessary results for producing a clear linecut oretching thereon.

As illustrated in Fig. 4:, T have shown an embodiment of the inventionwherein the body 1' is formed on a slightly different design havingextending ends 2 Stop lugs 3 are formed adjacent the extending end 2 andare adapted to engage the clamp or latch P as illustrated in Fig. 1. Thebody 1 is also provided with a centrally located arm 5 which may be alsobrought into engagement with the clamp 1 to hold the body l in ahorizontal position. A cradle 34 is supported within the body similar tothe cradle 13 in the embodiment above described, and this cradle issupported by means of the bracket 35. The whole body 1 is supported uponthe side frames 36 and are pivotally secured thereto by means of thepivot pins 37. The interior of the machine as illustrated in Fig. a maybe formed of the same construction as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Afalse bottom 38 is sup ported within the body I and a drain nozzle 39 iscarried within the body and constitutes a water drain for the body toallowthe escapement of water therefrom.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a very eflicientand durable device has been produced for causing the acid within theetching machine to be discharged in a spray upon the zinc plate ordevice to be acted upon with suflicient force to obtain the desiredresult. It should be further understood that by having the reversiblestructure as set forth, the action of the acid may be made substantiallycontinuous owing to the fact that the body of the device may be sorotated as to cause the acid to be used a number of times.

It should be understood that the false bottoms 29 and 38, as indicatedin Figs. 2 and 4 respectively, are for the purpose of allowing the useof fresh water on the surface of the plate being etched so as to cleanthe same of acid before removing the plate from the cradle. It will beseen that the water so used will pass directly out of the port withoutbecoming mixed with any other chemicals which may have become spilledfrom the tanks during the process of inverting. As will be seen byconsidering the drawings, all the bolts which project within theinterior of the body of the machine are protected from the acid by meansof the insulating protectors.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. An etching machine of the class described comprising a support, abody rotatably mounted therein, tanks carried by the ends of said body,means formed in said tanks for discharging the liquid from one end ofthe end walls thereof, and a plate support carried within said body.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a support, a bodyrotatably mounted therein, tanks carried by the opposite ends of saidbody, means for discharging liquid from one end of the end wallsthereof, a plate support carried within said body and being placed inalinement with said liquid discharge means formed in said tank, andmeans engaging said body for holding the same in the desired position.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a support, a bodyrotatably mounted therein, tanks carried by the ends of said body, meansformed in said tanks for allowing the discharge of liquid therefrom, and

a plate support pivotally secured Within said body and capable of beingswung there-- 'in for causing the plate to be held in the path-way ofsaid discharge means formed in said tanks.

t. A machine of the class described comprising a support, a bodyrotatably mounted therein, tanks carried by the opposite ends of saidbody, said tanks provided with inclined end walls for directing liquidinto one end of said tanks, said tanks provided with liquid dischargemeans, and a plate support pivotally secured within said body andcapable of being swung in the path way of said discharge means formed insaid tank, and means carried by said body for holding the same in a setposition.

5. A machine of the class described comprising a support, a bodyrotatably mounte'd'therein, tanks carried by opposite portions of saidbody, spraying means carried by said tanks, a plate support pivotallysecured within said body and adapted to be placed in alinement with saidspraying means for causing the acid contained within the tank to bedischarged directly thereon, and an inlet tube carried by each tank forfacilitating the entrance of acid therein.

6. machine of the class described comprising a body, said body providedwith a plurality of tanks, a plate supporting cradle, pivot memberspivotally secured to said body, each pivot member provided with anenlarged end, said cradle comprising a plurality of frames having eyesformed at their upper ends, said pivot members passing through said eyesand pivotally connecting said cradle to said body, a plate supportcarried by said frames, said plate support provided with a plurality ofdrain apertures, and a plurality of lugs formedaround the edge of saidplate for preventing the accidental dropping of work from said plate.

7. A machine of the class described comprising a support, a bodyrotatably mounted therein, lugs carried by said body, means engagingsaid lugs for holding the body in a set position, acid containing tankscarried by said body, said tanks provided with acid discharge means inone end of their end walls, and a plate support carried within said bodyand placed in alinement with said acid discharge means for allowing theacid in said tanks to be discharged upon said plate support.

8. A machine of the class described comprising a body, acid tankscarried thereby, a plate support carried within said body,

acid discharge means formed in said tanks,

GEORGE H. BROWN. Witnesses JOSEPH H. FUssnLL, S. H. SHEPARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

